Significant enhancement on the mechanical and tribological performances of paper-based friction materials by designing silicone@SiO₂ core-shell structure

Under the heavy-loading harsh condition, achieving prominent mechanical and tribological performances of paper-based friction materials are an extreme demand for meeting their application in the braking of vehicles. In this study, modifying carbon fiber with epoxy groups and designing silicone@SiO₂ core-shell structure as efficient and feasible strategies, were employed to boost the mechanical and tribological properties of friction materials. The above core-shell hybrid, acted as an effective interfacial linker, contributed to forming strong mechanical interlocks and increasing chemical cross-linking density at the interphase. The tensile and interlaminar shear strength of silicone@SiO₂-modified sample were improved by 28.6% and 12.9%, respectively. Meanwhile, the toughness of silicone@SiO₂-modified sample showed a 102.82% increase. Moreover, compared with pristine sample, the dynamic friction coefficient of silicone@SiO₂-modified sample increased from 0.1020 to 0.1202, while the wear rate decreased from 0.617 × 10⁻⁸ cm³ J⁻¹ to 0.432 × 10⁻⁸ cm³ J⁻¹.